Amazon Tightens Security After High-Profile Hack

(Newser) – Amazon has clamped down on security following last Friday's high-profile hack of Wired reporter Mat Honan's digital identity, which began by breaching his Amazon ID, reports Wired. Customers used to be able to call Amazon and change account information as long as the caller could present name, email address, and mailing address. But as of yesterday morning, account settings could not be changed by phone.

A 19-year-old hacker who broke into Honan's Amazon account on Friday was able to scan his billing information and see the last four digits of his credit card. Unfortunately, those four digits were enough to trick Apple's customer service into giving out Honan's information, allowing the hacker to blank all of his devices and break into his email and Twitter accounts. Apple has likewise since suspended customers' ability to change passwords via phone, notes Wired. (Read more Amazon stories.)